Amusement device



Nov. 12, 1940. L. u. EYERLY 2,221,215

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feu-7; 1958 y THIENE s/ Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED' sTATss PATENT oFFicE 5 claims. (o1. 272-6) This invention relates generally. to amusement devices, and particularly to ka means for reciprocating a car rapidly in a` vertical or` inclined direction.

The main object of this invention is the provision of an exceedingly simple and eiicient form of amusement device whereby a passenger may be reciprocated vertically or in'a substantially Vertical direction at a relatively high rate of speed.

The second object is to providea device of the class described wherein the passenger is catapulted from a lowermost position to an uppermost position at a single movement and wherein the passenger may be held in the uppermost position or permitted to move up and down upon an elastic support until the stored energy is expended.

These and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5--5 in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a hollow column lll which is preferably vertical but may be inclined if desired. In its present form the column I0 has a circular sleeve similar parts II slidably mounted thereon. The lower end of the sleeve I I is anged outwardly to form a iioor for the car I2. The seats I3 are provided around the sleeve II and rest upon the oor of the car I2. The column I0 is provided with lateral slots I4.

Within the column Ill is disposed a lifter I5 whose lugs I6 project through the slots I4 and serve to engage the under side of the bottom of the car I2. The lifter I5 is suspended by the resilient members II which may be either rubber bands or springs and are connected by an equalizer I8 to cable I9 which passes over a pulley 20 at the upper end of the column I0 and thence downwardly inside of the column I0 around the pulley 2li-A which is disposed within the column I0 and then around the idler pulley 2l to the'cable winding drum 22 which is driven by a reversible electric motor 23 through the'worm drive 24.

It is desirable to provide a cap 25 for the upper end of the column I0 and also to provide va plurality of shock absorbing springs 26 near 5 the upper end of the column Ill to serve as a resilient stop for the sleeve I I in its upper travel.

The lifter I5 is provided with a `latch pin 2l adapted to engagethe hook 28 of the bell crank lever 29 which is fulcrumed on the pivot 30, 10 which is mounted on the standard 3|. The lever 29 has attached thereto a foot pedal 32 which is urged upwardly by means of the spring 33.

The latch 34 is provided near the upper end of the column Ill for the purpose of holding the 15 car I2 in its uppermost position should this be desired. The latch 34 may be released by means of the cable 35 which may be operated in any convenient manner. It is desirable to provide guy lines 3S between the cap 25 and the ground. 20

The operation of the device is as follows:

When empty, the car I2 is supported by means Vof the lugs I6 in a lowermost position. However, when passengersI occupy the seats I3 and are fastened thereto by means of the straps 31, 25 and the motor 23 is operated, it will cause the cable I9 to be Wound upon the drum 22 increasing a tension of the elastic member I1.

When the desired tension is attained, the operator depresses the pedal 32 which releases the 30 lifter I5 causing the car I2 with its seats I3 to be shot upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 where the latch 34 holds the car I2 in an elevated position until the latch 34 is released by a pull on the cable 35. The car I2 35 then falls until it strikes the lifter I5 and the inertia of the car causing the members I'I to elongate although not as much as they were when the car was rst released.

It will be noted that lugs I6 stop against the 40 upper ends of the slots I4 while the car I2 with its seats I3 continues on to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will also be noted that while the latch 34 engages the recess 34-A in the sleeve I I, it could 45 be positioned to engage the under side of the car I2.

The car then recoils and is again shot upwardly, this time Without sufficient force to engage the latch 34 and so on until the car automati- 50 cally comes to a rest. While this'is taking place, the motor 23 is reversed causing the cable I9 to be played out so that when the car is iinally at restl in a lowermost position when the lifter I5 will be held by the hook 28. Obviously, the 55 latch 34 may be dispensed with or may be rendered inoperative, so that the car will never be caught at the upper end of its rst jump.

It is desirable to provide some form of shock absorber for the upward movement of the car such as the springs 26, due to the fact that an excessive winding movement at the drum 22 coupled with a light load inthe car might cause the car to travel upwardly an objectionable distance.

It should also be noted that while I have shown the column l as vertical, that same may be made to incline if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An amusement device consisting of a substantially upright column, a car slidably mounted on said column, an elastic supporting means for said car, means for increasing the tension of said supporting means, means for holding said car against the lifting action of said elastic support, and means for releasably holding said car in the uppermost position to which it can be elevated by said elastic member.

2. The device of the class described consisting of a substantially vertical column, a lifter slidably mounted on said column, a car on the upper side of said lifter and movable thereby, an elastic support for said car, a latch for holding said car downwardly against the action of said elastic a second latch for releasably holding said lifter in an uppermost position and means for increasing the tension of said elastic together with means for cushioning said car at its uppermost limit of travel.

3. A device of the class described having in combination a column, a lifter slidably mounted on said column, a car adapted to be moved upwardly by said lifter, an elastic cable attached to said lifter, means for increasing the tension of said elastic cable and means for releasably holding said-car at its uppermost limit of travel.

41A device of the class described having in combination a column constituting a guide, a

lifter constituting a slide mounted on said column, a latch for releasably holding said lifter in a downward direction, an elastic tension member for supporting said lifter, a car slidably mounted on said column adapted to be propelled by said lifter, means for varying the tension of said elastic member and means for releasably holding said car at its uppermost limit of travel.

5. A device of the class described having in combination a substantial vertical column, a lifter slidably mounted on said column, a car slidably mounted on said column and adapted to be supported by said lifter, an elastic support for said lifter, a latch for holding said lifter downwardly against the action of4 said elas tic means, a second latch for holding said car in an upper most position and means for increasing the tension of said elastic element.

LEE U. EYERLY. 

